Handbag



- Sept. 9,1947. V R. L. DUMBRUSKI v2,427,201

HANDBAG Filed March 4, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HANDBAG Filed llarch 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sinai; 2

Patented Sept. 9, 1947 "USN! TED STATES OiFFilC-E HANDBAG Robert L; Dumbruski, Cambridge, Ohio Application March 4, 1946,"Seria1No. 651338 (C1. MO-6.45)

2:0laims. 1

This invention pertains to handbags, such as ladies handbags, and similar portable enclosures but pertainsmoreparticularly and specifically'to means for illuminating the interiors of such bags or enclosures.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of means for illuminating, when i1- lumination 'is desired, the interior of a ladys handbag or the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision'of a novel and improve'darrangement by. which the interior of a ladys handbag or the like can be illuminated.

A still further object of the inventionis the provision of a novel and improved switch arrangement forcontrolling the electric illumination of the interior of a womens "handbag or the like.

Another 4 and i still further -object of the invention is the provision of an arrangement which is 'comparatively'simple both of construction and installation yet highly efficient for illuminating the interior of a'lady s handbag-or the like.

Other objects, novel features "of construction and improved results of the inve'ntiOnwill appear from the following descriptionwhen read in the light of the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated an embodiment of the inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is .a side elevation of a ladys handbag havingthe presentinvention embodied therein.

Fig. 2 is aplan view of the pocketbookQthe pocketbook being shown open. 4

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the'direc'tion indicated "by arrows.

Fig. 4 illustrates the illuminating apparatus as it would appear before applications to the handbag.

Fig. 5 is aperspective View of-one detail-of the construction embodied in the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the light bulb mounting and the electric circuit controlling switch.

The presentinventi'o'n is "particularly suited for the illumination of the interior of a lady s handbag and such a particular embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings but it is to be understood. that the invention could be utilized for illuminating the interiors of other kinds of-enclosures without "departing from the inventive concept.

Referring now to the specific embodimentof the invention as illustrated in the drawings and using like reference numerals and characters throughout the description to designate like parts, A is a ladys handbag which can be made of leather or of some other'desired material and for the most part is of conventional construction and appearance.

It is provided with a finger operable 'c'atch at its top which when released permits the pocketbook to be swung open, as illustrated in "Fig. 2, which operation is possible by "reason hi the conventional frame rn'a'ole up of the two'parts'2 ancl"3 having their opposed-ends pivotally connected as'at "4. Interiorly the pocketbook is provided with the usual and conventional lining 5 and'is-piovid'ed at one side adjacent its top with as'mallpoek'et 6.

A leather or other suitable wrapper B is secured to the rear side of a substantially rectangular shaped boXC' composed o'f "some 'siiitable light *nonmarrent conuuctmg material and provided. "with "an open "front "or top "1. its upper end the box is provided with a 'metallic inset and at its bottom with a similar inset 9. The box 7 is of -the proper lengthens width to snugly receive a pair "of dry "cell batteries ill and "H which-are arranged in end to "end relationship so that they are in electrical Contact withbne another in "the time and conventional manner. The bottom 'irnetallic insetm contatits the metallic bottom of the lower battery f0 and the metallic inset 8 contacts the centerterminal'12 of the upper battery. A conductorit is electrically connected to the inset 8 and a conductor Hi to the inset't. The boxandthebat- .teries are enclosed 'by inwardly folding the ends lfi'and ifi'of the wrapper and then foldihgo'vr the -side I! of the wrapper and finally folding over the sidelfl thereof. The-wrapper is held upon and about the box by a spring snap 19 or the like.

The wrapped battery box "or carrier is "disposed adjacent the bottom-bf the pocketbook at one end thereof and is held against displacement ':by being 1 sewed or othewise suitably s'ecured-to theouter face of the bag lining 5. Obviously as new batteries may be required this can be quickly doneby releasing the wrapper B.

The wires l3 and M are carried under the-lining 5 upwardly toward the top of the pocketbook for connection respectively to a switch and to the socket of an electric light bulbas will now be specifically described.

'13 is a substa-ntially rectangular shaped plate made of some light non-current-conducting material -and 'is disposed upon the inner face of the leather 'or other material 20 of which the pocketbook is composed and is :provided centrally with an aperture in which is secured a metallic socket -24 which-threadedly receives, in the conventionalmanner, aeonventional electric light bulb E. When the bulb is in the socket the electric terminal carryingendof the bulb is-disposed in an opening 22 provided in the pocketbook wall 2'9.

"On the outerf'ace of the pocketbook wall 20 and in opposition to the plate D there is a fitting comprising a bracket-like member -23 having opposeddepending arms 24 and 25 betweenwhi'ch is pivotally supported a switch operating arm 28. As will appear in Figure 1 of the drawings the member 23 and the switch operating arm 26 are suitably shaped so as to be of pleasing appearance. The particular shape is optional but the parts should be made of some light non-currentconducting material.

The conductor I4 is secured to a tubular metallic element 2'! which extends through an opening 28 in the plate D and has its inner end in electrical contact with the metallic lamp socket 2|. The conductor 13 is connected to a metallic element having a pair of prongs 29 clamped about an arm 30 formed as a part of the plate D. This element has an elongated tongue-like part 3! which extends up the back of the plate D and has its end 32 disposed in the opening 22. This tongue is secured to the plate extension arm 30 by a screw, rivet or the like 33 and is of spring material and its end 32 is normally out of contact with the terminal 34 in the bottom end of the electric light E.

The plate D at the inner side of the pocketbook and the switch carrying member 23 at the outer side of the pocketbook are secured together and retained in proper position by screws 39 or the like, which arrangement makes it possible to quickly and easilt apply the arrangement to the pocketbook.

F is a hood composed of some suitable transparent or transluscent material and is disposed in the pocketbook over the light E. This hood is open at its bottom as at 35 and is removably supported on the plate D by sliding its side edges 36 under the vertical guides 31. The horizontal guide 38 supports the hood.

If desired the cover F can be made of some color so as to transmit a light of any desired and pleasing color. The arrangement makes it possible to remove the cover should it be necessary to replace the electric light E,

A few words will suffice to explain the operation of the invention. Normally the electric circuit is open as appears in Figure 6 of the drawings. The spring arm or tongue 3! is normally out of electrical engagement with the bulb terminal 34. To close the circuit and illuminate the light it is necessary only to swing the switch operating arm 26 outwardly into the position illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings. This causes the rear side of the swing arm to push the tongue 3| inwardly, through a camlike action, into electrical engagement with the light terminal 34. The on or closed circuit position is illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the arrangement is simple and therefore comparatively cheap of production and is such that it can be applied to pocketbooks now in use. The arrangement does not detract from the appearance of the pocketbook. All the electric wiring is concealed under the pocketbook lining and the cover of the battery box can be the same as the lining and therefore be practically unnoticeable. The fixture at the outer side of the pocketbook by which the switch arm is operated can add to and improve the appearance of the pocketbook when it is made, as illustrated in the drawings, in the nature of an ornament.

I claim:

1. In a handbag having walls forming an enclosure and movable toward and from each other to close and open the bag, an electric battery in the bag, an inner plate and an outer plate composed of non-currenlt-conducting material positioned respectively at the inner and outer sides of one of said bag walls adjacent the upper end thereof, the inner plate provided with an opening having therein a metallic internally threaded socket for the reception of the metallic threaded ferrule of a conventional electric light bulb, said bag wall provided with an opening communicating with said light socket, a current conductor extending from one terminal of the battery and. through the inner plate and terminating in electrical engagement with the outer side wall of said bulb socket, a resilient current conducting switch arm secured to the inner plate and extending through the bag wall and terminating in the opening therein and in spaced close relationship to the electrical terminal in the end of the light bulb, a current conductor extending from the other terminal of the battery to and having electrical connection with said switch arm, a manually operable arm pivotally mounted on the outer plate and adapted to move the switch arm into electrical engagement with the terminal in the end of the light bulb, said outer plate and pivotally mounted arm being composed of a noncurrent-conducting material and being made of a pleasing appearance to represent an adornment on the outerface of the bag wall, and means interconnecting the inner and outer plates and clamping them against displacement on the bag wall.

2. In a handbag or the like a comparatively thin plate of non-current-conducting material disposed in the pocketbook adjacent the top thereof and against the inner face of one wall of the pocketbook, a comparatively thin plate of non-current-conducting material against the outer face of the pocketbook wall in opposition to the first named and inner plate, the wall between said plates being provided with a transversely extending opening, the inner plate being provided with a passageway therethrough and having a metallic open ended electric light receiving socket therein, said inner plate provided with a passageway disposed at right angles to the first named passageway and extending from an edge of the plate toand terminating at the electric light receiving socket and having a current conducting element therein, a resilient current conducting switch arm carried by the inner plate and extending through the pocketbook wall and terminating adjacent but in spaced relationship to the inner open end of said light socket, a handle pivotally mounted on the outer plate and normally paralleling the wall of the pocketbook, and said handle adapted to engage the switch arm and move the same toward the inner open end of the light socket, the parts operating as and for the purpose described.

ROBERT L. DUMBRUSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record In the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,775,476 Shifflett Sept. 9, 1930 1,998,523 Ramstad Apr. 23, 1935 2,218,396 Hallbauer Oct. 15, 1940 2,276,370 Conrad Mar. 17, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 197,740 Great Britain May 22, 1923 534,870 France Jan. 14, 1922 

